The subject of the study was to examine whether the ecotoxicological hazard potential of pharmaceuticals or their metaboloties should be assessed. In a first step, publications on environmental problems known to be related to pharmaceuticlas were reviewed and evaluated. The data were discussed with concerned interest groups. In a second step, the data required by the 'Arzneimittelgesetz (AMG)' as part of the registration process were assessed under the aspect of suitability for ecotoxicological risk assessment. Additionally, it was evaluated which laboratory tests should be required to perform ecotoxicological risk assessments with pharmaceuticals. Preliminary risk assessments were conducted for different pharmaceutical groups if sufficient data were available. Taking into consideration the legal requirements for chemical notification within the EU, the necessity of further development of the AMG concerning ecotoxicological aspects was emphasized. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: RN 8422(1996,60) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman